When the thief left behind something priceless

by Shreya Basarge (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find Switzerland

My cheek rested against the cool glass, the rain outside was making slivers of water run down the window pane. Inspite of a dull ache in my shoulders, in that moment I was relaxed. I was about to pick up my travel diary and start journaling my day, when the ticket collector walked in, he verified my Eu-rail pass and punched a hole against the untidy scrawl of ‘Berlin’ and ‘Basel’ mentioned as my source and destination. I reminisced the last month as I skimmed over the last few entries on my pass, a month full of new places, new experiences and lots of train travel. It was day 30 of my 120 days of backpacking across Europe and it was well-spent exploring Berlin. I unlaced my boots to take them off and tried to massage off the weariness of the day from my feet. My left hand was gently massaging my right foot as I sat cross legged with my travel diary propped on my lap. I tucked away my passport and Eu-rail pass in the latter half of the diary and started off my journaling by drawing a sketch of the Brandenburg gate. It was almost mid-night, the chattering of my fellow passengers had died down and the weariness of the day started to get better of my earnestness to write and I dozed off. After about 500 miles and 8 hours later, I woke up to an empty coach. I peered outside the foggy window and I could vaguely decipher Basel - white letters on a blue background. Almost there! So I bent over to reach for my backpack but my fingers clutched at thin air. The area under my seat that held my backpack last night was now empty and my luggage was no where to be seen! My heart was pounding ferociously against my chest, I could hear the blood rushing to my ears as my fingers curled tightly around the edge of my seat. My shock quickly turned into denial and I frantically started searching for my belongings in my coach, the coach was empty, but I kept looking, deep down I was pleading with the universe to bring my luggage back. I ran across the length of the train looking for my luggage but found nothing. There was no hint of my belongings - my backpack, my shoes, my jacket and not to mention my passport all gone! Denial melted into guilt and thoughts such as 'why did I not chain my backpack...how could I be so careless...why me?!' started engulfing my mind as I made my way back to my coach. I plopped on the floor of the coach, helpless, alone and shivering. As I continued to struggle to accept my new reality the train pulled into the station and I hopped off the train. It was November and the chill had set in. I walked up to the police station explained my situation and had them file an FIR about the theft. The long walk to the police station left my extremities numb and I was shivering, the officer threw a blanket over my shoulders and asked me if I wanted to quit and go back home. In that moment I felt like my mind was at war - fear, self-doubt and pain clashed with the tiny ounce of hope and courage that was still left. I was not even half way into the journey and I felt like quitting, I felt like a failure and that’s when it dawned on me, they have stolen my belongings, but there is no way they can steal my courage and break my spirit. All can never be lost unless I believe it is. I met the officer’s gaze and told him I would like to continue. That moment felt like inflection and I cried, I cried because I had lost my luggage, because I felt wronged, because I felt pain but my tears were also a medley of a seeker’s tryst with awakening. In that moment I realised I had found resilience, I had found courage and I had found hope in the most unexpected of times!